"How Will This Be?"
Scripture Reading — Luke 1:26-38
“How will this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?”
—Luke 1:34
As we get nearer to the celebration we’ve been waiting for, Mary’s question becomes more urgent. Is the story of Christmas just a story to make us feel good? Or did these things really happen? As Mary herself asked, how would God become human and be born of a virgin?
Luke, the writer of this account, was a doctor. He knew about babies. Perhaps that is why he gave the most details on the birth of Jesus. He wanted his readers to understand that this birth was extraordinary, supernatural. Something like this simply did not happen—it was impossible.
But wait! Impossible things are possible with God!
A long string of near-impossible birth stories foreshadowed this birth: Isaac (Genesis 18:10-14; 21:1-7), Samuel (1 Samuel 1), John the Baptist (Luke 1:5-18)—all born in situations that biology and common sense considered impossible. Except that the Creator decided it was good and necessary.
Mary’s question is one we need to ponder as we get closer to Christmas.
And we need to rejoice that the impossible did happen—that Jesus was born into our sinful world, and that he brings life to all who believe in him.
Father God, we are so grateful that with you all things are possible, and that Jesus did come to earth. May we truly celebrate your glory and majesty this week. We pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.
About the author — Morris Greidanus
Beginning in 1964, Morris Greidanus served churches in Alberta, Ontario, and Michigan. He was campus pastor at the University of Toronto from 1968 to 1974. After retiring in 2002, he served on various interim tasks in churches and educational institutions until he passed away in 2017. Morris and his wife, Alice, were married 58 years and had three children, five grandchildren, and a growing number of great-grandchildren.
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